Method and mechanism for transferring fabric blanks



Sept. 27, 1966 F. H. FROMM, JR

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING FABRIC BLANKS Filed May 1, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 NN UNRN INVENTOR Kiwi/7 Mali/4J7:

7 A 77fi/VEYJ1 Sept. 27, 1966 F. H. FROMM, JR

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING FABRIC BLANKS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1964 INVENTOR.

ma J Wu Sept. 27, 1966 FROMM, JR 3,275,317

METHOD AND MECHANISM FORTRANSFERRING FABRIC BLANKS Filed May 1, 1964 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 27, 1966 F. H. FROMM, JR 3,275,317

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING FABRIC BLANKS Filed May 1, 1964 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 27, 1966 F. H. FROMM, JR 3,

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING FABRIC BLANKS Filed May 1, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 27, 1966 F. H. FROMM, JR 3,275,317

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING FABRIC BLANKS Filed May 1, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet a FIG: 10 FIG; 15

INVENTOR. W617i 1 fiamm; 1Z1:

Sept. 27, 1966 F. H. FROMM, JR

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING FABRIC BLANKS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 1, 1964 A VNTOR.

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United States Patent 3,275,317 METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR TRANS- FERRING FABRIC BLANKS Frank H. Fromm, In, 4215 State Road, Drexel Hill, Pa. Filed May 1, 1964, Ser. No. 364,080 14 Claims. (Cl. 271-26) My invention is concerned with a transfer method and mechanism useful, for example, in textile mills in picking up precut fabric blanks from a supply station and transferring them to processing station at a distance from the supply station for conversion, by edge stitching or other treatment, into doilies, wash cloths, bibs, aprons, diapers, handkerchiefs, belts or parts of garments including collars, cuffs, linings, etc.

My present invention has, for its chief aims, the provision of a method by which it is possible not only to remove fabric blanks individually placed upon a support at the supply station but to remove blanks one at a time from a pile at said station without disturbing the remaining blanks in the pile, for delivery to the second station for processing and the provision of a reliable automatically operative mechanism for carrying out said method.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a processing apparatus embodying my improved transfer mechanism.

FIG. 2 shows the organizations of FIG. 1 in side elevation.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation as seen when looking toward the right of FIGS. 1 and 2, with portions broken out to expose important details which otherwise would be hidden.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view with certain parts broken away showing, more particularly, the means by which the fabric blanks are successively removed from the supply station for transfer to the processing station.

FIG. 5 is a view looking as indicated by the angled arrows VV in FIG. 4 with certain parts broken away.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are-fragmentary sectional views showing successive stages in the operation of a pick-up incorporated in the means provided for removing the fabric blanks successively from the top of a pile at the supply station.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary detail view in section through one edge of the pick-up within the boundary indicated by the broken line rectangle in FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary detail view looking as indicated by the angled arrows XIXI in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are fragmentary views corresponding to FIG. 10 showing two alternative forms of the pick-up.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of a system which I have devised for automatic cyclic control of the transfer mechanism.

FIG. 15 is a view in top plan of another alternative form of pick-up designed for use in handling fabric blanks of a different configuration.

FIG. 16 is a view looking as indicated by the angled arrows XVI-XVI in FIG. 15, and drawn to a larger scale; and

FIG. 17 is a sectional view, likewise drawn to a larger scale, taken as indicated by the angled arrows XVIIXVII in FIGS. 15 and 16.

Referring first more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 of these illustrations, it will be observed that the transfer mechanism of my invention comprises a pick-up unit which is comprehensively designated 20 and which is suspended from a centrally depressed carriage 21 having lateral flanges 22 engaged in guideways 23 at the bottoms of a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending channel beams 25 for travel back and forth between sta- 3,275,317 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 "ice tions A and B in transferring individual precut fabric blanks taken, as more fully explained later, from a pile P placed on a support 27 at said station, and delivering them to a station B for processing and conversion of the blanks into finished textile products. Arranged at the station B may be, for example, a sewing machine S and a device D with a platen E onto which the blanks are dropped, and by which the edges of the blanks are presented to the needle of the machine for stitching. At the station A, the longitudinal track channels 25 are hung from a pair of spaced crosswise overhead beams 28 and, at the station B, from a single crosswise beam 29, said beams being rigidly supported respectively at opposite ends by columns 30 and 31. The means provided for traversing the carriage 21 includes a reversible electric motor 32 which is mounted on an angle iron 33 extending crosswise between the longitudinal track channels 25 at the right hand end, and which has a sprocket chain connection 35 with a transverse shaft 36 rotatively borne in said channels 25. Affixed to the shaft 36 immediately inward of the channels 25, are sprockets 37 respectively which, by means of chains 38, are connected to similarly disposed idler sprockets 39 fastened on short transverse shafts 40 borne in said channels at the station B. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the carriage 21 is connected to the chains 38 by pins 41 fast in lugs 42 on the lateral top flanges of said carriage. Affixed to one of the chains 38 are projections 43 and 44 for actuating electrical limit switches 45 and 46 secured respectively to one of the longitudinal channels 25 at the stations A and B.

With reference now more particularly to FIGS. 3-10, it will be observed that the pick-up 20 comprises a flat hollow shallow head 47 which is connected by a hose 48, with interposition of an electrically operable valve 49, to a vacuum source (not illustrated). The head 47 is quadrangular in configuration to correspond with that of the fabric blanks, which are exemplified as being square, and of an overall area somewhat less than that of the blanks, its bottom being rounded on a curve of a relatively large radius. Along two of its opposite side walls, the head 47 is provided with air intake passages or apertures 50 and with outwardly projecting upper and lower fins 51 and 52 which are relied upon to deflect air for entry laterally through said apertures under suction action. As shown, the fins 51 and 52 are in the form of strips of stiff sheet material secured to the head 47, with capacity for in and out adjustment, by means of screws 53, as in FIGS. 4 and 10. Referring to FIG. 3, the effective size of the pick-up head is the distance between the remote edges of the fins 52. In this instance, the head 47 is further provided in the central area of its bottom with air intake passages or apertures 55, and internally with a horizontal bafile 56 by which air entering through these apertures under suction is channeled laterally in opposite directions to join the flow entering through the apertures 50 in the opposite side walls of the head in a manner hereinafter more fully explained. Disposed within the bottom of the head 47, respectively, adjacent opposite ends thereof are electric plunger switches 60 and 61 and, at an intermediate point is another such switch 62. As further shown, the head 47 is aifixed to a rock shaft 65 whereof the opposite ends are engaged in pendent arms 66 of a horizontal plate 67 which is suspended from the lateral top flanges 22 of the carriage 21 by tension springs 63, and which is normally held raised by the springs against upright stop pieces 69 pendent from flanges of the carriage as in FIGS. 3 and 4. Afiixed to one of the protruding ends of the shaft 65 is a right-angled arm 70 whereof the distal end is engaged between collars 71 and 72 on a slide rod 73 having pistons at opposite ends in dashpots 74, 75 supported on plate 67. Shifting of the rod 73 to cause rocking of the shaft 65 and the head 47 first in one direction and then in the other, as also more fully explained later, is brought about by solenoid magnets 76 and 77 in turn mounted on plate 67. Upstanding from the plate 67, at its center, is a rounded projection 78 which extends through a clearance opening 79 in the depressed central portion of the carriage 21 for action thereupon by a coned cam collar 80 on the piston rod of a vertical double-acting cylinder 81 which is pendently supported from the transverse beams 28 and connected, by pipes 82 and 83, with a suitable source of pressure fluid (not shown) with interposition of a reversible control valve 84 arranged to be actuated by solenoids 85 and 86. An electric switch indicated at 87 in FIG. 3 is arranged to be actuated by the collar 80 on the piston rod of cylinder 81 for a purpose also later set forth hereinafter.

Fixedly suspended from the overhead structural beam 29 at the station B is a vertically arranged double-acting cylinder 88 similar to the cylinder 81, having a coned cam collar 89 on its piston rod for actuating an electric switch 90. The cylinder 88 is connected with interposition of a reversible control valve 91 operable by solenoids 92 and 93, to the source of pressure fluid (FIG. 14) by piping 94 and 95. The switch indicated at 96 in FIG. 2 is arranged to be actuated, also as later on explained, while the switches indicated at 97 and 98 are provided respectively for starting and stopping cyclic operation of the mechanism. The several electrical instrumentalities thus far mentioned are incorporated in the cycle control system illustrated in FIG. 14, together with two relays indicated respectively at 100 and 101 in the diagram, electric current for the system being supplied from a suitable power source through leads L-1 and L-2.

Operation With further reference now to FIG. 14 of the drawings, cyclic function of the mechanism is initiated by closing starting switch 98. As a consequence the electrically operable valve 49 will be opened and the head 47 thereby subjected to suction. At the same time, through switch 62, current is supplied to the solenoid 85 of the control valve 84 of cylinder 81 with consequent depression of the piston of said cylinder and lowering of the pick-up to bring the head 47 into engagement with the pile P of the blanks under the pressure of springs 63. Through incidental actuation of switch 62, the downward movement of the pick-up is stopped for maintenance of the head 47 in engagement with the blank pile for the time being. As the head 47 encounters the pile P, the midportion of the latter is gradually compacted as in FIG. 6 with consequent displacement ofthe air therefrom. This action is attended by upward flaring and separation of opposite end portions of several blanks at the top of the pile as also shown in FIG. 6. Upon actuation of switch 62 as above explained, a circuit is closed through the solenoid 76 to rock the head 47 counterclockwise about the axis of shaft 65 as in FIG. 7 incident to which the distal edge of the fin 52 at the left hand end of the head, in pressing down upon the top blank of the pile, determines a transverse break line about which a marginal area of the blank is drawn upwardly, as in FIG. 8, over the left hand end of the head by suction of air through the apertures 50. As the head 47 completes its counterclockwise rocking movement, the switch 60 is actuated to intercept current flow to the solenoid 76 and establish a circuit for energization of the solenoid 77 to cause the head to be rocked clockwise to the position of FIG. 8, when a marginal portion of the top blank of the pile at the right is sucked up about the distal edge of the fin 52 at that end of the head by air drawn into the apertures 50. As the head 47 completes its clockwise rocking movement in FIG. 8, the switch 61 is actuated with attendant return of the head to horizontal position, opening of a circuit through solenoid 77 and closing of a circuit throug solenoid 86. to actuate valve 84 for admission of pressure fluid into the bottom of cylinder 81 to draw up the piston of the latter and allow the head 47 to be raised to the normal elevated position under the pull of the tension springs 63. As the head 47 is thus raised, the blank b is caused to cling to the head bottom by suction of air through the apertures 55 while the lapped up margins In and m of the blank are effectively held over the opposite end edges of the head by suction through the apertures 50. As the piston of cylinder 81 completes its upward stroke, the cam collar thereon actuates switch 87 with attendant closing of a circuit to operate motor 32 whereby the carriage 21 is moved leftward along the trucks 23 in FIGS. 1 and 2 from station A to station E. Upon arrival of the carriage 21 at station B, the lug 44 on chain 38 actuates switch 46, with attendant opening of the circuit to motor 32 and closing of a circuit to the solenoid 92 of valve 91. Pressure fluid is thereby admitted to the top of cylinder 88 to depress the piston of the latter and cause the pick-up 20 to be lowered. At the end of the downward stroke of the piston rod of cylinder 88 the switch 96 is actuated by the cam collar on said rod with the result that the circuit through the solenoid of vacuum valve 49 is interrupted and said valve is closed. Upon interruption of the suction to the head 47, the transferred blank b is released to drop onto the platen E associated with the sewing machine S at the station B. By actuation of switch 96, a circuit is closed through the solenoid 93 of the valve 91 for admission of pressure fluid into the bottom of cylinder 88 and re-elevation of the pick-up 20. As the piston of cylinder 88 completes its upward stroke, the cam collar 89 thereon actuates switch with attendant starting of the motor 32 in reverse for return of the carriage to its original position at the stationA, and actuation of the switch 45 by the projection 43 on chain 38 in readiness for the start of another cycle.

In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 12, the pick-up head 47-(a) has a flat bottom and the lower air deflecting fin 52(a) is horizontal and parallel with the upper air deflecting fin 51(a). A pick-up head of this construction is advantageous in that it is capable of lifting blanks of heavier textile fabrics from piles placed on the support at the station A as well as blanks individually placed on such table.

The alternative form of pick-up head 47 (15) illustrated in FIG. 13 is identical with that shown on FIG. 12 except that, in this case, the distal edges of the deflecting fins 51(b) and 52(1)) are downwardly curved. As a further modification, the distal edge of the lower fin 52(b) may be curved upwardly instead of downwardly as shown in broken lines in FIG. 13.

For operation upon fabric blanks of more intricate shapes, such for example as garment parts, I have devised a pick-up of which the one illustrated and designated 20(0) in FIGS. 15-17 is suggestive. As shown this pickup comprises a suspension in the form of a flat plate 67 (0) (corresponding to plate 67 of FIGS. 3-5) which is contoured to approximate the shape of the blanks in a pile P(2), and which at the center has an upward projection 78(0) for engagement by the cam collars 80 and 89, respectively, at the bottom ends of the pistons of the cylinders 81 and 88 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Disposed beneath the plate 67 (0) at various locations along its perimeter are flat hollow quadrangular pick-up head sections 47 (0) having tubes 102 incorporated at their inner side walls, the outer side walls of said sections being apertured as at 50(0). As shown, the interiors of the tubes 102 are cummunicative with the hollows of the sections 47(0) by way of perforations 103 and the protruding ends of the tubes are engaged in bearing lugs 105 pendent from the suspension plate. As further shown, the tubes 102 are communicative with the hollows of the sections by a hose 48 (0) to a source of vacuum with interposition of a control valve 49(0). The sections 47 (0) are subject individually to compression springs 107 interposed between them and the suspension plate 67(0) and are nor mally restrained in an angular position acute to the horizontal, by engagement of radial pin projections 109, on the tubes 102 with stop projections 108 on the corresponding bearing lugs 105. The sections 47(0) are provided, moreover along their outer side walls, with air inlet aperture 50(0) and with upper and lower air deflecting fins 51(0) and 52(c) similar to those of the previously described forms of pick-ups. Referring to FIG. 15, the effective size of the pick-up head is determined by the disposition of the outer edges of the fins 52(0) of the several sections 47(0). As the pick-up 20(0) is lowered, the fins 52(0) are first brought into engagement with the topmost blank b2 in the pile P-2 as in FIG. 17, and as the movement continues, the sections 47(0) are caused to turn upwardly about the axes of the tubes 102 against the yielding resistance of the springs 107 until they rest fully upon the topmost blank of the pile. Upon initial contact of the fins 52(0) with the topmost blank [7-2, the latter is rather sharply depressed along lines parallel to the blank edges with the result that the margins of the blank are caused to rise slightly as suggested in full lines in FIG. 17. As the pick-up is further depressed, the sections 47(0) will gradually assume a horizontal position in full engagement with the topmost blank incident to which, the blank will be smoothed out toward its margins by the outer edges of the fins 52(0) and the upwardly deflected margins will be lapped up ultimately over the outer edges of the sections 47(0) by air suction through the perforations 50(0).

Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the invention is broad enough to encompass all equivalent embodiments thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the foregoing specification and the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In mechanism for transferring precut fabric blanks one at a time from a pile thereof at a supply station to another station spaced from said supply station, the combination comprising a pick-up head having blank engaging undersurface areas bounded by peripherally extending generally upright side wall areas, the effective size of the pick-up head being such that marginal areas of said blank project outwardly from thereunder, means for lowering said pick-up head onto the pile of blanks, means providing for passage of air through at least portions of the side wall areas whereby to place said side wall areas in communication with a source of vacuum to draw marginal areas of the topmost blank toward, and operatively hold said marginal areas of the topmost blank to, said side wall areas, means for raising the pick-up head, moving it to said other station, terminating the vacuum at said side wall areas to release the blank at said other station, and returning the pick-up head to its initial position, and auto- 1 matic cycle control means for operating the several means in predetermined timed relation in repeating cycles.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the pick-up head is provided with air intake passages in the side wall areas thereof, and said side wall areas are provided with means extending outwardly beyond and above said passages to control the path of air approaching said passages.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the air intake passages are disposed between vertically spaced air deflecting fin means extending outwardly from the side wall areas.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the pick-up head is rockable in either direction about a horizontal axis, and the automatic cycle control means includes means for rocking said pick-up head first in one direction in response to initial engagement of said head with the topmost blank whereby to bring one side edge of said head into engagement with said blank, and then in the opposite direction in response to rocking movement in said one direction whereby to bring the opposite side edge of said head into engagement with said blank.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the blank engaging undersurface area of the pick-up head bulges downwardly centrally from opposite sides thereof.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the downwardly bulging blank engaging undersurface area of the pick-up head is provided with air intake openings, the pick-up head is provided with a hollow interior, and the air intake openings in said undersurface and in the side wall areas of said pick-up head are in communication with said hollow interior.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein a bafile plate in said pick-up head is disposed in overlying spaced relation to the bottom of said pick-up head and in spaced relation to opposite side Walls thereof, and the connection of said pick-up head with the source of vacuum is operatively disposed above said baflle plate,

8. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the pick-up head is mounted upon a shaft provided with a lateral extension operable for rocking said shaft and pickup head, and the automatic cycle control means includes a pair of electro-magnetic devices operable alternately for actuating said extension.

9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the pick-up head has a plurality of sections disposed about the periphery thereof and independently rockable about horizontal pivotal axes, yieldable means is provided to normally position said sections so that they extend outwardly and downwardly from said pivotal axes, and each of said sections is in communication with the source of vacuum.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein each section of the pick-up head is provided with a hollow interior, and means are provided for serially interconnecting the hollow interiors of said pick-up head sections.

11. The combination according to claim 9 wherein each section of the pick-up head is provided with air intake passages in the outer side wall area thereof, and said side wall area is provided with means extending outward-1y beyond said passages to control the path of air approaching said passages.

12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein the air intake passages are disposed between vertically spaced air deflecting fin means extending outwardly from the side wall areas.

13. In a fully automatic method of transferring precut fabric blanks one at a time from a pile thereof at a supply station to another station spaced from said supply station, the steps comprising lowering a pick-up head into engagement with the topmost blank, the effective size of the pick-up head being such that marginal areas of said blank project outwardly from thereunder, inducing suction through the sides of said pick-up head overlooking said marginal blank areas whereby to draw the marginal areas of said topmost blank toward and operatively hold the marginal areas of said topmost blank to said sides of the pick-up head, raising the pick-up head to lift said topmost blank from said pile of blanks, moving said pick-up head to said other station, cutting off the suction and thereby releasing the blank from said pick-up head for deposit at said other station, and F turning said pick-up head to said supply station for removal of another blank from the pile thereof.

14. In a fully automatic method of transferring pre-cut fabric blanks one at a time from a pile thereof at a supply station to another station spaced from said supply station, the steps comprising lowering a pick-up head into engagement with the topmost blank whereby to apply pressure to compact the area of said pile of blanks underlying the pick-up head, and whereby to cause marginal areas of said blanks disposed outwardly beyond said compacted area to turn upwardly, inducing suction 7 8 through the sides of said pick-up head overlooking said References Cited by the Examiner marginal blank areas whereby to draw the marginal areas UNITED STATES PATENTS of said topmost blank toward and operatively hold the marginal areas of said topmost blank to said sides of the 1250902 12/1917 Krueger 294 64 pick-up head, raising the pick-up head to lift said top- 5 1,334,451 3/1920 Hanau 294-64 X most blank from said pile of blanks, moving said pick-up 1,768,586 7/1930 t 271 12 head to said other station, cutting ofi the suction and 31039367 6/1962 stafnes 271-26 thereby releasing the blank from said pick-up head for $091,995 6/1963 Aulson 27126X deposit at said other station, and returning said pick-up head to said supply station for removal of another blank 10 HENSON WOOD Primary Examiner from the pile thereof. R. A. SCI-IACHER, Examiner.

UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,275,317 September 27, 1966 Frank H. Fromm, Jr.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 71, for "communicative with the hollows of the sections" read coupled serially by short hoses 106 and connected Signed and sealed this 29th day of August 1967.

( AL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

13. IN A FULLY AUTOMATIC METHOD OF TRANSFERRING PRECUT FABRIC BLANKS ONE AT A TIME FROM A PILE THEREOF AT A SUPPLY STATION TO ANOTHER STATION SPACED FROM SAID SUPPLY STATION, THE STEPS COMPRISING LOWERING A PICK-UP HEAD INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TOPMOST BLANK, THE EFFECTIVE SIZE OF THE PICK-UP HEAD BEING SUCH THAT MARGINAL AREAS OF SAID BLANK PROJECT OUTWARDLY FROM THEREUNDER, INDUCING SUCTION THROUGH THE SIDES OF SAID PICK-UP HEAD OVERLOOKING SAID MARGINAL BLANK AREAS WHEREBY TO DRAW THE MARGINAL AREAS OF SAID TOPMOST BLANK TOWARD AND OPERATIVELY HOLD THE MARGINAL AREAS OF SAID TOPMOST BLANK 